For Elizabeth King ’79 Lib, receiving a scholarship not only provided her with the opportunity to play collegiate softball and earn a political science degree, but it also gave her a sense that the Penn State community stood behind her.
“Somebody believed in me, and somebody was pulling for me,” she recounted.
It was that support during four life-changing years that now inspires Elizabeth to make a similar impact on other students.
“The memory I have of when I received my first scholarship is vivid,” she said. “It meant so much to me that someone I had never met cared enough about me and other Penn State students to make a generous contribution. I knew then that one of my goals would be to establish my own scholarships when I could afford to do so.”
In 2011, Elizabeth established her first scholarship—the Elizabeth M. King Undergraduate Scholarship—in the School of Hospitality Management.
“It was very impactful for me to see the students each time the Hospitality Management Technology Advisory Board met. It was clear that there were numerous students who needed and deserved financial support, and I wanted to be part of that,” she said. “Over time, as I got more exposure to additional organizations, I realized that there are needs in each school.”
Now Elizabeth’s impact can be seen University-wide in service and philanthropy to the College of Information Sciences and Technology, where she serves on the Deans’ Advisory Board; the School of Hospitality Management in the College of Health and Human Development, through the Hospitality Management Technology Board (now evolved to the Entrepreneur and Innovation Allies); the College of the Liberal Arts with the McCourtney Board of Visitors; and Intercollegiate Athletics.
Despite the varied goals of these boards, they are all unified in their efforts to provide institutional support through time and treasure.
“It’s important for all of the boards and leaders to be open to new ideas and insight from industry and from a diversification of the members,” Elizabeth said.
Drawing insight from her twenty-year career with Starbucks, Elizabeth now serves as managing partner of Elizabeth M. King Consulting LLC, providing human resources management and shared services consulting to clients.
Beyond her board service and industry expertise, Elizabeth has spoken in classes, participated in Startup Week, and served as a long-time mentor to student athletes on the Penn State Softball Team.
“It is hard to explain how mentoring college student athletes, who soon become young professionals, keeps my ideas and thoughts fresh and relevant,” she said. “I have so many wonderful memories with these students on and eventually off campus—career progression, new jobs, promotions, weddings, babies—being a strong part of a young person’s life is so rewarding.”
Elizabeth considers her rich set of experiences as payment for her contributions.
“Payment for me is meeting my scholarship students, seeing the entrepreneurs succeed, establishing mentor relationships with the students, and feeling involved,” she said. “I hope anyone interested in being a new donor or volunteer will consider that they can get as much out of that relationship and opportunity as they are willing to put into it. There is no way to replace a Penn State relationship.”
Inspired by Elizabeth’s service?
Give to Technology Scholarships in the College of Information Sciences and Technology.